O'Gara only one to make the cut

RUGBY:DESPITE MUNSTER'S dominant position, 14 points clear of closest rivals Leinster in the Magners League, only one of their players, Ronan O'Gara, has been selected in the competition's "Dream Team" for 2010/11.

Leinster make up a third of the XV announced yesterday as Jamie Heaslip (for the fifth year running), Isa Nacewa, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross and Seán O’Brien are all included, while Connacht’s record try scorer, and Leinster-bound winger Fionn Carr also makes the cut.

Third-placed Ulster are represented by their Springbok scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar (receiving 13 of 19 votes to see off Isaac Boss who received three).

The Cardiff Blues and Llanelli Scarlets both have two players on the team. The fourth-placed Blues are represented by outside centre Casey Laulala, selected on a second round of voting after a dead heat with Brian O’Driscoll, and flanker Sam Warburton while sixth-placed Scarlets (22 points behind Munster) have loosehead prop Iestyn Harris and inside centre Jonathan Davies. Edinburgh’s Dutch, but soon to be Scottish, winger Tim Visser (14 tries) along with secondrows Alun Wyn Jones of the Ospreys and Glasgow’s Richie Gray complete the selection.

“The remarkably versatile O’Brien received votes in all three backrow positions and polled twice as many votes overall as any of the other 20 players nominated for the three positions,” read a league statement.

Supposedly, neither Six Nations or Heineken Cup form was a consideration but the convoluted selection process gives some indication into why this slight on Munster’s excellent league form has occurred.

For starters, there are more judges than players, with 19 on a voting panel. They are a gathering of “broadcast and media partners”, seven of whom hail from Ireland, another seven are Welsh, three Scottish and just two Italian judges.

There are five overseas players in the team – Nacewa, Laulala, Pienaar, Visser and Strauss – but the latter pair are due to qualify as natives through residency next year.

The Magners League XV will be formally recognised at a ceremony in Carton House, Kildare this Sunday evening when the coach, player, young player and try of the season will also be announced.

The coach and player awards will undoubtedly carry more impact as that voting process is conducted by those directly involved (the coaches vote for the coach and players for players awards). There is no nomination list. There will also be a chairman’s award presented on the night. Highlights of the ceremony will be televised on RTÉ next Monday night at 8.30pm and the Magners League has placed an embargo on reporting the winners until such time.

MAGNERS LEAGUE DREAM TEAM 2011: Isa Nacewa (Leinster); Fionn Carr (Connacht), Casey Laulala (Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Tim Visser (Edinburgh); Ronan O'Gara (Munster), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster); Iestyn Thomas (Scarlets), Richardt Strauss (Leinster), Mike Ross (Leinster); Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors); Seán O'Brien (Leinster), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster).